Indian Earthquakes

Southland Times, Issue 19553, 6 May 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

Indian Earthquakes

Though the disturbed areas of the latest Indian earthquake and of the earthquake of 1897 overlap to some extent, the two earthquakes evidently originated at widely separated places. In 1897 it was the eastern end of the Himalaya country that was most seriously affected, whereas it was the western end which suffered most last month. Dr Davidson considers the earthquake of 1897 the greatest of " modern earthquakes and he gives with. much detail the phenomena which accompanied it. His account helps to an understanding of the condensed telegraphic reports of what has just happened in the northwest. He quotes an observer who heard “ a deep rumbling sound, like near thunder,” about two seconds before the shock, and had a distinct sensation of sea-sickness owing to the violent rocking of the ground :— " Near Maimansingh earth-waves were watched approaching, exactly like rollers, on the sea coast, and as they passed the observers had a, difficulty in standing. At Nalbari, the rice in the fields could be seen rising and falling during the transit of the waves.- Im the Assam valley, near Mangaldai, there were ween waves coming from opposite directions, and meeting in a great heap, and then falling back ; each time the waves seemed to fall back .the ground opened slightly, and each time they met water and sand were thrown up to a height of about eighteen inches or so. . - Among the superficial effects of the earthquake none take a more-important place that the fissures formed in alluvial plains. Not only were they remarkably. abundant, more so than in any other known earthquake, butthey occurred over an unusually wide area. Wherever the necessary conditions prevailed, they were found to be numerous over a district. . - measuring about 400 miles from east to west, and about 300 miles from north to south. rind they were present, though in smaller numbers, over an area nearly GOO miles long in nil east-north-east and west-south-west direction. . Shortly after the earthquake largo quantities of water and sand issued from fissures in the ground. At Dhubri innumerable jets of water, like fountains playing,- spouted up to heights varying from 18in. to quite 31ft. or 4ft, Wherever this had occurred the land was afterwards seen tc occupy a sandy circle, with a depression in the centre. These circles ranged from 2ft to 6ft. and Sit in diameter, and were to be seen all over the country. In some places several were quite close together ; in others they were at a distance of several yards?-’